The benefits and harms of pear
Pear is not only tasty fruit, but also very healthy. Regular inclusion of pears in the menu allows you to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood, helps to strengthen the immune system, and allows you to get rid of extra pounds.
Pears can be eaten by both absolutely healthy people and patients with diabetes mellitus. These fruits are useful for pregnant women and young children, as pears contain many vitamins and minerals.
Content:
The benefits of pear
- Composition and calorie content
- The health benefits of pears
- The benefits of pears for men
- The benefits of pears for women
- The benefits of pears for children
- Benefits and harms for various diseases
- The benefits of pears for men
- The benefits of pears for women
- The benefits of pears for children
- Benefits and harms for various diseases
- How to choose a pear?
- How to store a pear correctly?
- Harm and contraindications of pears for humans
- Pear: answers to questions
- Conclusion on the benefits of pear
The benefits of pears
Composition and calorie content
Pears can be safely consumed by overweight people, since these fruits are a low-calorie product. 100 g of pear contains about 47 kcal, of which 10.7 g are carbohydrates, 0.3 g are fats, 0.4 g are proteins.
- Fats: 0.12 g
- Proteins: 0.38 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.46 g
- Water: 83.7 g
- Ash: 0.33 g
- Cellulose: 3.1 g
| Vitamins | amount | % RDA |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 4.2 mg | five% |
| Vitamin K | 4.5 mcg | 4% |
| Vitamin B9 (folic acid) | 7.0 μg | 2% |
| Minerals (in 100 g): | amount | % RDA |
| Boron | 130 mcg | 186% |
| Lead | 0.9-30 mcg | 160% |
| Cobalt | 10 mcg | 100% |
| Rubidium | 44 μg | 44% |
| Thallium | 0.4 μg | 20% |
| Silicon | 3-6 mg | 17% |
| Vanadium | 5 μg | 13% |
| Nickel | 17 mcg | eleven% |
| Copper | 80-120 mcg | ten% |
| Iron | 0.17-2.30 mg | ten% |
Other important connections:
- Phytosterols - 8 mg (15% of the RDI)
- Purines - 6 mg (5% of the RDI)
- Oxalic acid - 6.2 mg (1.6% of the RDI)
The pear can contain up to 30 mcg of lead, which is 160% of the daily value.
Complete chemical composition ➤
In addition, pears contain such substances necessary for a person as molybdenum, iodine, boron, zinc, manganese, vanadium, fluorine, nickel and many others. Eating pears allows you to saturate the body with folic acid, which is especially beneficial for pregnant women.
Ripe pears are 97% juicy, the remaining 3% are seeds and rind. Pear is a valuable source of fiber, which helps normalize bowel function. The inclusion of a pear in the menu allows you to regulate the biocenosis in the body, since the fruit is a natural antibiotic.
The pulp of the fruit contains flavonoids, organic acids, tannins and enzymes. The pear also contains starch.
However, those pears that grow in areas that are unfavorable from an ecological point of view will not benefit the body. You should not pick fruits from trees along roads. Such fruits will contain heavy metals such as lead, thallium and strontium.
Useful properties of pears for body health
The health benefits of pears cannot be overestimated.
Thanks to the use of these fruits, the following effects can be achieved:
- To increase the general resistance of the body to infectious diseases;
- Normalize the immune system;
- Eliminate existing inflammatory processes;
- Get rid of depression;
- Increase the nutritional value of breast milk;
- Normalize the work of the digestive system;
- Regulate metabolism;
- Improve the functionality of the liver and kidneys.
Due to the fact that the pear contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, blood vessels are strengthened, the strength and elasticity of the vascular wall increases. Pears can be used to prevent atherosclerosis, as they help to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol.
Since the pear is rich in dietary fiber, it is useful to include it in the menu for people with cholelithiasis. Pear lovers not only have their hair and nails in excellent condition, but also their skin and teeth. It is recommended to regularly eat pears for people suffering from cancer, as these fruits increase the effectiveness of drugs intended for the treatment of cancer.
Pears help fight the following diseases:
- Skin diseases. With a tendency to allergies, as well as eczema, it is necessary to use a decoction of pear leaves. To prepare it, you will need to pour 0.5 liters of boiling water into a glass of young pear leaves. Then the resulting mixture is boiled over low heat for 2 minutes. In the resulting broth, gauze is moistened and applied to the inflamed areas of the skin.
- Diseases of the urinary system. A pear-based broth can reduce the intensity of pain during urination, for example, with cystitis. In addition, the amount of urine excreted increases, and an unpleasant odor ceases to come from it.
- Diseases of the biliary system. For medicinal purposes, it is useful to take a decoction based on dried fruits. It is necessary to grind one pear, pour 500 ml of water over it and boil the resulting mixture until the fruit becomes soft. Then the broth is removed from the heat and kept under a lid for 3 hours. Drink the resulting composition 3-4 times a day for half a glass. It is a very useful remedy for diseases of the gallbladder.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system. Since pears contain potassium, it is useful to eat them both fresh and dried. You can prepare various drinks from fruits: compotes, juices, fruit drinks.
Pears allow you to get rid of edema, increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood, and normalize the functioning of the gallbladder. To do this, it is enough to eat about 100 g of fruit per day. This portion makes it possible to saturate the body 100% with cobalt.
Conference pear is very useful. It should be included in the menu for people with cardiac dysfunction, as well as with problems with immunity. This variety contains organic acids and dietary fiber. The conference can be eaten for diarrhea, as well as to accelerate weight loss.
No less useful pear of the Duchess variety. These are quite large fruits, the weight of which can reach 0.8 kg. Duchess pears contain an antibacterial component - arbutin. It is fatal to most of the human pathogenic flora. Doctors recommend using a decoction of Duchess pears for people with diseases of the respiratory system, as well as with a strong cough. This "medicine" will definitely appeal to all patients, because Duchess pears have a pleasant nutmeg flavor.
However, do not consume large quantities of Duchess pears, as this can provoke indigestion in the form of constipation.
It is not recommended to eat unripe pears for the elderly. For eating, you should choose only ripe fruits, which are best pre-cooked, for example, baked in the oven.
The wild pear has an impressive set of useful properties. In dried form, it is prescribed for people with tuberculosis. A baked or boiled pear effectively relieves a painful cough. For the treatment of children from colds, a decoction of wild pears is used.
Fruits with rot or too overripe fruits are unsuitable for food. Such pears provoke putrefaction processes in the intestines.
Wild pears are useful for people with kidney stones. It is enough to eat two fruits a day. You can cook unsweetened compote from them.
Another useful pear variety is called Williams. These fruits are low in calories and do not cause allergic reactions. It is very useful to give such baked pears to children who are often ill. You should not give up the use of Williams pears for nursing women. Including them in the daily menu can improve the quality and volume of breast milk.
Williams pears help to strengthen the immune system, so they should be eaten by pregnant women.
The benefits of pears for men
Pear contains many minerals and vitamins that are needed for chronic prostatitis, so all men will benefit from this fruit.
It is known that men are more prone to alopecia than women. Pear, in turn, helps fight early hair loss. To do this, you need to regularly use a pear-based mask.
Components for preparing the mask:
- A tablespoon of honey;
- 3 tablespoons of pear pulp;
- A tablespoon of burdock oil;
- Juniper essential oil - 3 drops.
All ingredients are thoroughly mixed, after which the mask must be applied to the scalp, intensively rubbing it into the hair roots. Maintain this composition for half an hour, then rinse with warm water.
Another useful property of pears for men is increased potency. You need to eat 2-3 ripe fruits per day. The same amount of pears should be eaten by men engaged in heavy physical labor.
The benefits of pears for women
The benefits of pears for women are invaluable during the menstrual cycle. Its use in food helps to reduce the severity of unpleasant symptoms, namely: improve mood, relieve pain, increase efficiency.
Cystitis is one of the most common diseases among women. You can speed up recovery and reduce painful sensations during urination thanks to the use of pears with mountain ash and cranberries. This fruit-berry mix allows you to increase the volume of urine output.
Pear is a valuable ingredient in face masks:
- Pear pulp (2 tablespoons) should be mixed with honey (1 teaspoon) and a pinch of cinnamon. This mask should be applied to the face once every 3-4 days. This will refresh the skin and give it a healthy look.
- A mixture of pear puree (2 teaspoons) and hydrogen peroxide (4 drops) is a very effective treatment for acne and age spots.
Pear masks should only be applied to intact skin. Pear masks should not be used by people with very sensitive skin.
It is known that many women strive to get rid of extra pounds. The pear is very useful to include in the menu for various diets. This fruit will saturate the body with useful substances, but will not allow you to gain body weight due to its low calorie content.
In addition, the pear is rich in insoluble dietary fiber. Their regular intake into the body contributes to the normalization of the work of all digestive organs, as well as the elimination of toxins. Therefore, in summer and autumn, when the pear harvest season comes, at least 2 of these fragrant fruits should be eaten per week.
Pears are useful during pregnancy, as they allow you to saturate the body with folic acid and increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood. In addition, pregnant women often suffer from constipation, and pears will gently solve this problem.
The benefits of pears for children
The benefits of pears for children are reduced to the normalization of the intestines. You can offer a decoction of dried fruit to children prone to constipation. Also, this drink is useful for colds accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
Pear seeds can be offered to children as an anthelmintic. With their help, diarrhea is stopped.
Pears should be included in the child's menu during colds season, as they allow the body to more effectively fight viruses.
Benefits and harms for various diseases
A pear is able to provide benefits and harm for various diseases, namely:
- Diabetes. A pear can be included in the menu for people with diabetes. These fruits contain fructose, which, when processed, will raise blood glucose levels more evenly. Pear juice, diluted in equal proportions with water, can lower blood sugar levels. However, the juice must be freshly pressed. In severe diabetes mellitus, you should check with your doctor about the possibility of including pears in the menu.
- Gastritis. Pears can be consumed by people during remission of the disease. The anti-inflammatory effect is achieved due to the fact that these fruits contain astringent components and tannins. For gastritis with high acidity of gastric juice, it is useful to consume pear juice. But with gastritis with low acidity, it is better to refuse these fruits.
- Prostatitis. With prostatitis, it is useful to eat pears of various varieties, and drink compote based on them. The therapeutic effect is achieved due to the normalization of blood circulation in the pelvic organs, as well as due to the diuretic effect.
How to choose a pear?
You need to choose pears correctly, this is the only way to get the maximum benefit from the fruit. Most often, fruits enter store shelves unripe. If it is not possible to buy a ripe pear, then after purchasing the fruits, it is necessary to keep them for several days at room temperature. This will allow them to mature and acquire the maximum taste.
In addition, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:
- Pear color. This figure will vary depending on the type of fruit. However, none of the pears should have large black dots, as this indicates the rotting process taking place inside the fruit.
- Aroma. The healthiest and tastiest pears are those with a pleasant, subtle scent. It is enough just to smell the "right" pear to awaken the appetite.
- Integrity. The pear must be free of mechanical damage, dents, abrasions and scratches. If the skin of the fruit is damaged, then it is better to refuse to buy such a product.
- Pear surface. The fruit should not shine, and there should be no greasy residue on it. Typically, these fruits are treated with harmful chemicals to extend shelf life.
- Peduncle. It should not be too dry in a ripe pear. You should choose the fruit in which the peduncle is soft and elastic, and also does not break when bent.
How to store a pear correctly?
Pears can be stored at home, but you need to do it right. If a large crop has been harvested from the garden, then the fruits should be placed in wooden boxes or baskets. Different types of pears need to be stored in different containers.
There must be holes in the box through which air will flow. It is necessary to lay paper at the bottom of the container. Lay the pears upside down. It is necessary to carry out the laying in such a way that the fruits do not come into contact with each other. Pears are stored in one layer.
If fresh pears are stored in a cellar, then mold and mildew must first be removed indoors. The air temperature should be low (-1 to 0 ° C) and the air humidity high (about 85%). It is not recommended to keep any vegetables or fruits near pears. In addition, you need to carefully monitor the fruit. If signs of damage appear on one pear, then it must be removed immediately. Rotten fruits will spoil the entire crop.
When pears are stored in an apartment, then a glazed loggia can be used for this purpose. If all conditions are met, fruits can keep their freshness for 3 months. To increase the storage time of pears, each fruit must be wrapped in paper. It is best to use parchment for this purpose.
You can also store pears in the refrigerator, pre-packing them in half a kilo plastic bags. Holes must be made in the bag for ventilation.
Even with ideal observance of all conditions, pears will not retain their freshness for more than 4 months. The fruits are stored in the refrigerator for 30 days.
Harm and contraindications of pears for humans
- Overripe fruits should not be included in the menu, as they can provoke disturbances in the functioning of the intestines. In such fruits, the content of methyl alcohol, acetic and lactic acids, acetaldehyde is increased.
- If the fruits are ripe, then you need to eat them half an hour after eating and not combine with other food products, otherwise fermentation in the intestines is possible.
- The joint use of pears and fatty meat, dairy products and smoked delicacies can provoke disturbances in the digestive tract.
Pear: answers to questions
- Is it more useful in pears or in apples? Both pears and apples are fruits that are beneficial to human health. Apples are lower in calories than pears and contain a lot of iron. Eating apples stimulates the brain and helps to cleanse the intestines of toxins. Pears, in turn, act as a natural antibiotic, saturate the body with minerals and vitamins, and normalize the digestive system. Pears taste sweeter than apples, but they contain less sugar. However, a person needs to consume all fruits in moderation.
- How to eat a pear correctly? Pears can be eaten in any form. They are healthy fresh, dried and dried. Skillful housewives prepare wine, marshmallow, candied fruit, marmalade from pears. Sun-dried fruits are very tasty. Throughout the year, you can eat pears and drinks based on them: decoctions, juices, teas. If you add apple or lemon juice to pear juice, the drink will acquire an even more pleasant smell and taste. Duchess pears can be used for making dryers and compotes. They are great for canning.
Conclusion on the benefits of pear
Pears can and should be consumed by people of all ages. These fruits strengthen the immune system, enable the body to quickly cope with colds. Regular inclusion of pears in the menu allows you to normalize the work of the nervous system, prevent the development of oncological diseases. Pears help with diarrhea.
During the harvest season, pears must be consumed, but in moderation. At the same time, you can stock up on the leaves of a fruit tree for the winter and enjoy delicious and healthy tea in the cold season.
The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist
Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).
